Christmas tree brightens Duck Pond

TEMECULA -- Temecula Mayor Mike Naggar prefaced the city's
annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the Duck Pond on Monday
night by reading what he said was an important letter he had
recently received.

"Dear Mayor Mike," he began reading to the more than 300 people
gathered at the park's gazebo. "While flying over your town last
year, I almost missed it. Can you please make sure the Christmas
tree is extra bright this year?"

After adding that the letter was signed by "Your Friend at the
North Pole," Naggar was joined at the podium by a young girl who
said she had recently given Santa her own message. In what Naggar
later said was an impromptu moment, he scooped the girl up in his
arms, while she told she had her own message from Santa Claus.

The only problem was, she couldn't remember it and couldn't read
her own scribble, but she was confident Santa would be able to read
it.

"Santa knows everything," she said, to the crowd's laughter.

The holiday cheer continued with Naggar inviting all the
children in the crowd up to the podium to join him for the
traditional countdown from 10 leading up to the tree lighting.

"If this is from Santa like I think it is, I think it's
important to make sure this tree is really bright," he told the
children.

They, along with most of the adults in the crowd, joined Naggar
in the countdown and when they finally reached one, about 2,600
white and red light bulbs adorning the 35-foot pine tree at the
Northwest corner of the park came to life. White lights on dozens
of trees throughout the park also lit up.

"Any time you bring people together in the spirit of Christmas,
it's important," Naggar said after the ceremony as he joined his
family to watch the performance of Christmas music by the teen
group Broadway Bound.

In its seventh year at the Duck Pond Park, the lighting ceremony
organized by the Temecula Community Services Department has become
a special night that is among several of the city's
holiday-centered events.

"It's a kickoff to the many things we do in the holiday season,"
said department Administrative Assistant Gail Zigler, who planned
the event. "Having the tree (at Margarita and Ynez roads) gives the
community the sense that the holidays are here."

Zigler, who has helped with the event every year since it has
been held at the park also said the tree lighting has become
important to one segment of the community.

"Each year what we are noticing is that there are a lot of new
faces, new people who have moved to Temecula in the last year," she
said.

Among those new to the area in attendance were Tara and Joe
Soubiron, who brought their 6-month-old daughter Tatum to the
ceremony.

The Soubiron's moved to Temecula in March from Carlsbad and said
that they decided to attend the event so they could get a feel for
the community.

"It's fun and family-oriented," Tara Soubiron said.

The evening's program featured an introduction by Community
Services Deputy Director Phyllis Ruse as well as welcome addresses
by Community Services Commission Chairman Jim Meyler and City
Councilman Chuck Washington.

The performance by Broadway Bound and an appearance from Santa
Claus closed out the night.

Along with the Christmas tree, two other displays are being
featured at Duck Pond Park through the holiday season. One is a
scene depicting the Nativity that has been up for a few days and
the other is a large menorah that will first be lit during a
ceremony Thursday.

The displays are part of an effort by the city that allows local
nonprofit groups to apply for one of four 10-foot by 10-foot spots
near the Christmas tree, Zigler said. If granted a spot, a group
must finance, put up and take down its own display. This year, only
two spots were applied for and approved, she said.